Fighting talk has put the Tories back in contention

TAKE that, Gordon Brown! In his dazzling speech yesterday, David Cameron confirmed that the Prime Minister will face a formidable opponent in the looming general election.

PUBLISHED: 00:00, Thu, Oct 4, 2007

As this newspaper reveals today, Mr Brown decided last weekend to press ahead with a November 8 poll. If he does not call it now it will be proof that he has suffered a massive loss of nerve.

Mr Cameron covered most of the main political issues of importance to the voters of Middle Britain. In a very strong section on education, he pledged to hugely increase parental choice and

give the final say on expulsions back to head teachers by abolishing busybody appeals panels.

On health, he promised to rescue the district general hospitals which Labour is threatening to close. On crime, the centrepiece was a mission to get police officers back on the beat.

The Government was taken to task for its breach of trust on the European Constitution and for its failure to look after our heroic armed services.

Only on immigration did Mr Cameron still seem overly reticent about adopting the tough measures the British public wishes to see.

The Conservatives started the week 10 points behind in the polls. But yesterday Mr Cameron was able to challenge the Prime Minister to stop dithering and call the election – and to look like he meant it.

He was able to do so thanks, in large part, to the boldness of Shadow

Chancellor George Osborne who made the key decision to remove the threat of inheritance tax from middle-class voters.